Infant Program
Our Infant program creates a warm, caring environment where your baby can explore and feel secure. We follow Maria Montessori’s vision of a “Nido”, or nest, providing a peaceful space for children. With soft tones, gentle interactions, and a homelike décor, we nurture each child with respect and affection. Our infant rooms are designed to support your baby’s whole development, including their social, emotional, and physical growth.
Our infant spaces welcome children as young as 6 weeks old and are tailored to meet each child’s unique needs. We use developmentally appropriate materials to encourage exploration and movement. Instead of grouping infants strictly by age, we follow each child’s curiosity and mobility to allow them to explore and learn at their own pace.
Program Schedule and Daily Routine
While babies usually follow a routine of feeding, playtime, and naps, we know that every baby is different. We work with parents to keep a schedule that matches each child’s needs and fits with their routine at home. This steady routine helps babies feel safe and know what to expect as they go through their day.
Each child’s food and bottles are brought from home, and we make sure that all meals and bottles are handled safely. We also welcome breastfeeding mothers to visit and nurse during the day. For sleep, we provide each child with a dedicated crib or cot in a peaceful nap area. Our caregivers work closely with our parents to replicate home sleep routines while gently guiding our infants toward self-soothing and healthy sleep habits.
From the moment your child joins our Infant program, we work with you to create a plan that reflects your child’s needs. You are always welcome to check in with us throughout the day. However, we ask that you schedule with us ahead of time to avoid disrupting routines in the classroom. We share daily updates on your child’s activities, feeding times, and naps when you pick them up. You will also have the chance to meet regularly with teachers and attend parent-teacher conferences to discuss your child’s progress.
The first years of life are a time of great sensitivity to bonding, language, and movement. Our Montessori Infant classrooms are made to help babies grow in all these areas. The spaces encourage children to move, explore, and develop their independence. We provide rich opportunities for language learning, using stories, songs, and baby sign language. Caregivers talk to the babies throughout the day, explaining what they are doing and using warm eye contact and gentle voices to engage them.
Our rooms are thoughtfully prepared with:
- Soft floor mats and mirrors to help babies enjoy tummy time, rolling, crawling, and discovering themselves.
- Low bars and soft furniture to help them pull up and build strong muscles.
- Toys like mobiles and rattles within reach to excite their senses.
- Low shelves with puzzles, rings on posts, and containers to help develop their fine motor skills.
For our older infants who are starting to walk, we offer:
- Push and pull toys to encourage them to move and explore.
- Low steps with railings to help them practice climbing.
- Purposeful water play to engage their senses and keep them curious.
Our outdoor spaces are also designed with infants in mind. They include soft surfaces for exploration, as well as equipment for climbing and sensory discovery. We also take our infants on regular buggy rides, both indoors and outdoors, so they can experience the world around them.
Even before babies can speak, they are absorbing language from the world. During their first 18 months, infants are building the foundation for language skills, which will lead to a burst of verbal language around age two. In our Nido (nest), we provide our infants with rich visual and auditory experiences. Caregivers talk to the babies throughout the day, explaining their actions and surrounding them with thoughtful language. As your child’s language skills grow, they will benefit from plenty of stories, songs, and responsive communication of our caregivers. This helps build their vocabulary and prepares them for future language development.
We believe in creating a kind and caring environment. Our caregivers earn the trust of infants by treating them with respect and love. They watch closely, letting each child explore and learn at their own speed. We explain everything we do, like diaper changes and nap time, with calm voices and gentle care. This helps our infants feel safe, trust the world around them, and grow more confident as they grow older.
In our Infant classrooms, we encourage babies to move freely. Our rooms are designed so babies can explore without being placed in playpens, bouncers, or other seats. The space is set up with items to look at and touch, which helps our infants reach, crawl, pull up, and walk. Simple toys help them gain strength and improve their coordination as they grow. Our caregivers gently help them reach each new milestone.
Resources
Montessori Infant-Toddler Programs: The Best Beginning, from montessori.org
This article explains how Montessori helps babies and toddlers grow and learn. It gives tips on how parents can use Montessori ideas at home.
Montessori from the Start, by Paula Polk Lillard and Lynn Lillard Jessen
This book shows how Montessori works for babies and toddlers. It gives advice on how to set up your home to help your child grow.
Understanding the Human Being, by Silvana Quattrocchi Montanaro, M.D
This book explains why the first three years of life are so important and how Montessori helps children grow during this time.
montessori preschool infant program orange county In A Montessori Home, by NAMTA
This short book shows real homes where parents use Montessori to help their babies. It also has simple ideas for toys and ways to set up your home.